Bewitching Shrug

Very, very simple really. Here’s sort of the “pattern”, although all parts can be highly modified for size and shape!

Aran weight yarn – I used Sublime Cashmere Merino Silk Aran, 75% merino, 20% silk and 5% cashmere (I wonder why they put the “cashmere” in the name first?). It’s super soft and squooshy, and tightly spun with lots of plies. It reminds me of DB’s cashmerino, but all natural fibres! And yes, I am that much of a yarn snob. I used four balls, 94 yards each.

Anyway. Stitch pattern is “stockinette lace ladder” from Barbara Walker’s A Treasury of Knitting Patterns (Vol. 1, otherwise known as the blue one).

Work even for about 12″. Increase each end every 4 rows until you have enough stitches to add another ssk, double yo, k2tog at each end, with one knit selvage stitch.

Work even for another 5″ or so, then do another bout of increases. This is the widest point. Work even until the piece goes across your back – I sewed up the first sleeve so I could make sure to have the correct starting point for the back, and just tried it on periodically to check the size, stretching slightly.

My “back hole” is about 19″ – this isn’t a cross back measurement, as it needs to go around the top part of the shoulder as well. When it’s long enough, make another sleeve, mirroring the placement of the sleeve decreases and ending with four rows of garter stitch.

Weave in the ends and go! I was originally going to do some kind of edging around the back, but didn’t get around to it. Doesn’t matter, really.

That Sublime is nice stuff. I might have to get some more and make a sweater out of it! Mmmm, soft.